Low-budget film will keep you awake

In "Paranormal Activity," the cameras catch strange things happening at night.

November 4, 2009 • By Myvy Tran, Staff Reporter  
Filed under A&E, Top Stories

Recently released Paranormal Activity is a faux documentary about a young couple dealing with a demonic presence. Katie has been dealing with this presence since she was eight years old, and now her relationship with her boyfriend (Micah) is tested.

Micah wants to videotape and capture the spirit’s actions while Katie clearly does not want to interfere nor anger the spirit. She finally relents and cameras capture the couple being awakened by unusual noises and suspicious activity every night.       

This San Diego-based movie was directed by Oren Peli with a budget of only $11,000. Many have said this movie is very similar to The Blair Witch Project, since both are low-budget movies filmed with only a household video camera.

Paranormal Activity probably would have never been created if it weren’t for the production of The Blair Witch Project, which introduced audiences to a new style of movie making. Paranormal Activity has grossed a hefty profit thus far, as did The Blair Witch Project.  

First shown at a film festival in 2007, Paranormal Activity was originally meant to be remade, with more money intended to be added to the production of the movie. But viewers grew to liking it just the way it was.

Two years later, this movie premiered at only 12 colleges at a midnight showing, and news of the movie soon spread by word of mouth. Soon enough, many interested audiences wanted to see the movie in their hometown. The movie’s marketing campaign was to have one million people demand Paranormal Activity before it could premiere nationwide, which became a huge success.      

Opinions on this movie are varied; some say that the movie is frightening and some say it is a waste of time and money. Personally, I feel the movie is dragged out and not so eventful throughout the beginning and middle of the movie. Finally, toward the end, a majority of the action occurs.

The last half hour was intense and had me checking my surroundings every few seconds. No other movie that I can recall has had this effect on me. I purposely did not sleep the night that I watched it, being too afraid that the events in the film might happen to me also, right then and there, while I was in bed, even though this movie is not based on a true story.      

Paranormal Activity is a faux documentary, so all of the events in this movie never happened in reality. People have claimed to have experienced similar events, but those events are heavily exaggerated in this movie. It is a decent movie, and one you should consider watching if you are interested in the paranormal or demonology, or just want a good scare.

Tags:

 Email This Post        Print This Post